Roero DOCG is a region in north-east Cuneo province in southern Piemonte in north-west Italy. It was granted DOC status in 1985 and DOCG status in 2004 for its Arneis-based white and Nebbiolo-based red wines. Roero had devoted itself mainly to vegetables and fruit until vines became a more profitable activity (Walter Speller 20 Jun 2012). Franceso Monchiero of the Monchiero Carbone winery told me ‘the reason Roero growers started estate bottling later than their peers in the Langhe (Barolo, Barbaresco) was because the Roero version of Nebbiolo was easier-drinking and easier to sell young, especially to the residents of nearby Torino who would drink Roero Nebbiolo whilst waiting for their Langhe Nebbiolo wines to come round.’ (Monty Waldin 19th May 2017).

Terroir: The Roero DOCG is located on the left bank of the Tanaro, the river which separates Roero from the Langhe to the south, with the Monferrato Astigiano region to the north and east.  Soils: calcareous.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2017 The Roero has around 1,100 hectares (2,018 acres) of vines of which 900 hectares (2,224 acres) are Arneis and 200 hectares (494 acres) are Roero Rosso,’ Franceso Monchiero told me at his Monchiero Carbone winery on 19th May 2017, adding that the Roer region as a whole also had 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of Nebbiolo d’Alba. / 2010 / 283 hectares (699 acres) of Nebbiolo produced 768,888 bottles (Walter Speller 17 Jun 2011).

Wineries

Certified organic: Cascina Ca’ Rossa.| Cascina Val del Prete. | Demarie. 

No certification: Giovanni Almondo di Domenico Almondo.

Bibliography

Franceso Monchiero, 19th May 2017 interview at his Monchiero Carbone winery.

Walter Speller, 17 Jun 2011, ‘Roero 2008 & 2007 Riservas’, www.jancisrobinson.com.

Walter Speller, 20 Jun 2012, ‘Negro – Arneis custodian’, www.jancisrobinson.com.